License tag



Feb. 11, 1936. T. A. KIRToN 2,030,702

`LCENSE TAG Filed April 1o, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 1 @j 7257*]- usggAL .5

T. A. KIRTON Feb. 11, 1936.

LICENSE TAG Filed April l0, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hof: w24 1 Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

I'his invention relates to a license tag and particularly to one which may be termed a two-piece tag, one of the pieces or sections being provided with what might be termed permanent identities 5 and the other being provided with identities effective for a predetermined period of time, as one year.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tag of this kind including what may be termed a l seal" tag or section which is attached to the main tag in a manner to require tearing of the sea.l" tag to effect its removal.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrange- 15 ment of the several parts of my improved license tag whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more 20 fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a tag assembly constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position; 30 Figure 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure l but showing the seal section or tag in another placement.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation with portions broken away of the seal tag as herein embodied unapplied;

Figure 4 is also an elevational view of the seal tag unapplied but with the outer plate omitted in Figure 3 in place;

Figure is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig- 45 ure 1;

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of the holding screw as herein employed;

Figure 8 is a view in top plan of the screw as illustrated in Figure 7;

50 Figure 9 is a view in perspective and inverted of the auxiliary cap or bolt head as herein employed;

Figure 10 is a view in perspective of a holding cap or member constructedin accordance with 55 another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 11 is a view in bottom plan of the holding member illustrated in Figure 12;

Figure 12 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating in applied position the locking or holding member as illustrated in Fig- 5 ures 10 and 11.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, A denotes the main or permanent tag having provided on its outer face suitable identifying means l. This tag A is what may be termed a perma- 10 nent type as it is to be retained from year to year by the user. This tag, as herein disclosed, is adapted to have either its upper or lower marginal portion secured to a holding bracket 2.

In Figure 1 the tag A has its upper marginal 15 portion attached while in Figure 2 the tag A' has its lower marginal portion secured to the bracket 2.

Associated with the tag A is a supplemental or seal tag B which is provided on its outer face with the same identity as to territory, as indicated at i', but which is further provided with the indication 3 to denote the year or the period of time in which the main tag A is in eect. This supplemental or sea tag is, therefore, to be changed annually or otherwise as may be required. The character of this supplemental or seal tag is such as to assure an eifective identication and which is constructed and assembled in a manner to prevent its removal without detec- 39 tion.

This supplemental or seal tag B as herein disclosed is formed of a single sheet of material folded upon itself, as at Il, to provide the overlying laminations 5 and 6. 'Ihe central portions of these laminations 5 and 6 are outwardly pressed, as at 1, to provide an enclosed chamber 8 for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to. 4o

The free end portions of the laminations 5 and 6 are suitably secured together by any desired means and preferably by spot welding and also effectively secured between said free portions of the laminations 5 and 6 is an end portion of an elongated seal band 9. This band 9 closely adjacent to its junction with the section or tag B has embossed or otherwise provided thereon a territorial identity I0 corresponding to the similar identity on the tag A and with a seal number l I which is issued by the traific authorities and checked against the person to Whom the tag A has been issued. This affords an effective double check as the traffic records', in order to establish a valid tag assembly, must show that the serial number of the section or seal tag B has been issued to vthe person to whom the records show to be in possession of the tag A.

The outer end portion of the seal band 9 is returned to provide an overlapping lamination 9' which serves to hold to the outer portion of the band 9 a nut I2. The portion of the band 9 adjacent to the nut I2 is pressed out, as at I4, to substantially conceal the nut. This nut I2 is adapted to engage a shank I5 comprised in a holding member for maintaining the supplemental tag B in applied position and also to further hold the tag A in place as this shank I5 is not only directed through the rear lamination 6 of the tag B but through an opening or slot I6 in a corner portion of the tag A or A and an opening I1 in the bracket 2.

The head I8 vof the shank I5 or the holding member is housed within the chamber 8 and interposed between the marginal portion of this head I8 and the inner lamination 6 or the rear wall of the housing 8 is a lock washer I9.

The outer or front lamination 5 is provided with an opening 20 through which the head I8 may pass and the outer face of the head I 81 is provided withthe shoulders 2| with which an operating member engages to turn the shank I5 into working position, the outer surface of the head I 8, however, being provided with opposed inclines 22 to reject the operating member should effort be made to unscrew the applied shank I5.

As herein disclosed, the operating member for the shank I5 comprises a cap member 23 which when applied closes the opening 20 in the lamination 5, and this cap member 23 is provided with a marginal flange 24 which extends beyond the opening 20 so that the cap member 23 may be rotatably held by the tag B but cannot be withdrawn out through the opening 20. The cap member 23 is provided radially thereacross with an internal flange 25 which constitutes a bead or tang to engage the shoulders 2I of the head I8 of the holding member or shank I5 to rotate the ,shank I5 in a direction to adjust the same into effective working position. The outer face of this cap member 23 is provided radially thereacross with a groove or channel 26 in which is adapted to be engaged a conventional screw driver or kindred implement. The cap member 23 is constantly urged toward the head I8 by a curved spring 21, the central portion of which having an opening 28 which snugly surrounds the member 23 outwardly of the flange 24 while the extremities of this spring 21 contact with the outer lamination 5.

'I'his spring 21 while constantly urging the cap member 23 toward the member I8 also has sufficient yielding action to allow the cap member 23 to readily rotate over the head I8 and independently thereof when retrograde rotation is imparted to the cap member 23.

The width of the chamber 8 is slightly greater than the major diameter of the cap member 23 to prevent said cap member having undue movement lengthwise of the chamber 8 or to hold said applied cap member. The rear lamination 6 has pressed therefrom inwardly of the chamber 8 the lugs 29 which, as illustrated in Figure 3, closely approach the applied cap member 23. When the supplemental or sealf tag B is applied it overlies the outer face of the tag A or A' at a corner portion thereof and the holding member or shank I5 is preferably disposed through a slot I6 of a length sufcient to allow said slot I 6 to also receivel the lugs 30 pressed outwardly from the rear lamination 6 adjacent to the opposite ends of the chamber 8. These lugs 30 when engaged within the slot I6 effectively hold the applied tag B against turning movement about the shank I5 and thus positively maintains the tag B in most effective placement on the tag A.

In order that the lugs 29 will offer'no hinderance or obstruction to the spring 21, the opposite end portions of said spring are cut away, as at 21', as particularly illustrated in Figure 3.

The year indication as produced on the outer lamination 5 of the tag B is preferably pressed outwardly therefrom while the territorial identifying means I is preferably pressed inwardly. The advantage of this is to facilitate the coating of the year indication which is preferably accomplished by passing the same over or ,across a suitable paint applying member.

After the indications or identifying means 3 and I' have been produced on the lamination 5 said lamination and particularly the portion thereof constituting a wall of the chamber 8 is weakened along the lines 3| so that said portion may be torn out when it is desired to remove the applied tag B. This breaking up of the lamination 5 prevents reuse of the tag without detection and by having the weakened lines 3I arranged as indicated in Figure 4 the tearing of the lamination will result in the same coming off in pieces and thus assuring an effective demolishment.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12, the outer end of the shank I5 is provided with an axially disposed pocket or recess 32 in which is received a stub shank 33 extending from the axial center of the operating member 34. This member 34 operates for the same purpose as the cap member 23 hereinbefore referred to and the under surface thereof is provided with diametrically opposed ratchet lugs 35 which engage with the radially disposed groove or channel 36 in the outer face of a head 31 carried by the shank I5' when the member 34 is rotated in one direction but allows free movement of the member 34 upon retrograde rotation thereof.

This member 34 has eoacting therewith a spring member 21a similar to the spring 21 hereinbefore referred to for maintaining the member 34 in effective position. The outer face of the member 34 is provided thereacross with a groove or channel 38 with which a screw driver or other suitable implement is adapted to engage for imparting required rotation to said member.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a license tag constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modication without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as Hunting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

. I claim:-

1. A device of the class described comprising two overlying members, a shank disposed through one of the members, an operating member for the shank rotatably positioned between the members, the second member having an opening to allow access to the operating member, means for constantly urging the operating member into engagement with the shank, a seal strip secured to said members, and a nut for the shank carried by the seal strip.

2. A tag having an enclosed chamber, opposed walls of which being provided with substantially aligned openings, a headed shank extending through one of the openings with the head within the chamber, an operating member within the chamber for coaction with the head of the headed shank for rotating said headed shank upon rotation of the operating member in one direction, a portion of said operating member being exposed through the second opening to allow turning thereof, and resilient means Within the chamber for urging the operating member into engagement with the head of the shank.

3. A tag having an enclosed chamber, opposed walls of which being provided with substantially aligned openings, a headed shank extending through one of the openings with the head within the chamber, an operating member within the chamber for coaction with the head of the headed shank for rotating said headed shank upon rotation of the operating member in one direction, a portion of said operating member being exposed through the second opening to allow turning thereof, said head of the headed shank and the operating member having coacting means to cause the same to rotate in unison upon turning movement of the operating member in one direction and allowing the operating member to have independent movement when rotated in the opposite direction, and a spring member within the chamber engaging the operating member for constantly urging said operating member into engagement with the head of the shank.

4. A tag having an enclosed chamber, opposed walls of which being provided with substantially aligned openings, a headed shank extending through one of the openings with the head within the chamber, an operating member within the chamber for coaction with the head of the headed shank for rotating said headed shank upon rotation of the operating member in one direction, a portion of said operating member being exposed through the second opening to allow turning thereof, said head of the headed shank and the operating member having coacting means to cause the same to rotate in unison upon turning movement of the operating member in one direction and allowing the operating member to have independent movement when rotated in the opposite direction, and means for constantly urging the operating member into engagement with the head of the headed shank.

5. A tag having an enclosed chamber, opposed walls of which being provided with substantially aligned openings, a headed shank extending through one of the openings with the head within the chamber, an operating member within the chamber for coaction with the head of the headed shank for rotating said headed shank upon rotation of the operating member in one direction, a portion of said operating member being exposed through the second opening to allow turning thereof, and means at opposite sides of the operating member for holding the operating member against displacement movement within the chamber with respect to the head of the shank.

6. A tag having an enclosed chamber, opposed Walls of which being provided with substantially aligned openings, through one of the openings with the head within the chamber, an operating member Within the chamber for coaction withv the head of the headed shank for rotating said headed shank upon rotation of the operating member in one direction, a portion of said operating member being exposed through the second opening to allow turning thereof, said head of the headed shank and the operating member having coacting means to cause the same to rotate in unison upon turning movement of the operating member in one direction and allowing the operating member to have independent movement when rotated in the opposite direction, the operating member having a peripheral flange extending beyond the second opening, and a bow spring within the chamber the extremities of which engaging with the wall having the second opening, the intermediate portion of the spring contacting with the marginal flange of the operating member for urging said operating member into engagement `with the head of the shank, said intermediate portion of the spring having an opening registering with the second opening of the chamber and through which the operating member is partially directed.

7. A tag having an enclosed chamber, opposed walls of which being provided with substantially aligned openings, a headed shank extending through one of the openings with the head within the chamber, an operating member within the chamber for coaction with the head of the headed shank for rotating said headed shank upon rotation of the operating member in one direction, a portion of said operating member being exposed through the second opening to allow turning thereof, and lugs carried by a wall of the tag and extending inwardly of the chamber at opposite sides of the operating member to hold said member against displacement within the chamber with respect to the head of the shank.

THOMAS A. KIRTON.

a headed shank extending i 

